Paris Saint-Germain 'working on Lionel Messi contract extension'

The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner sees his current deal expire at the end of the season, although PSG can activate a 12-month extension until the summer of 2024.

Messi initially struggled to showcase his best form at PSG since leaving Barcelona, and rumours of a possible return to Camp Nou have continued to swirl.

Both Xavi and Joan Laporta have talked up the possibility of Messi playing for Barcelona again, while economic vice-president Eduard Romeu has claimed that the operation would be financially viable.

However, Xavi has since changed his tune and called for "peace" over speculation surrounding Messi, who has been in fine form for Les Parisiens in the 2022-23 campaign.

According to Le Parisien, the Ligue 1 champions now want to agree a new contract with the 35-year-old, as club chiefs have been left highly satisfied with his performances in training and on the pitch.

The report claims that president Nasser Al-Khelaifi views Messi as a "pleasure" to work with, and football advisor Luis Campos shares the same view.

However, PSG committed to paying Messi £35m per season upon his arrival in the French capital, and the financial aspect of his renewal could put a spanner in the works.

Christophe Galtier's side reported losses of as much as £305m for the latest financial year, and they are therefore apprehensive about maintaining the Argentine's mammoth wage.

While Messi is yet to receive a firm offer of an extension, the report adds that PSG will at least present the attacker with a one-year option, but he will not make any decisions on his future until after the World Cup.

Forming the famed attacking triumvirate with Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, Messi has recorded an impressive nine goals and 10 assists from 15 matches in all tournaments in the 2022-23 season.

The former Barcelona man had already equalled his Ligue 1 goals tally from last season, striking six times in 11 outings after scoring the same amount in 26 top-flight games last year.

Messi has now totalled 49 appearances for PSG, scoring 20 goals and setting up 25 more since arriving in 2021, and he helped Les Parisiens win the Ligue 1 title with four games to spare last season.

This time around, Messi's contributions have helped Galtier's men open up a five-point lead over Lens and Lorient at the top of the Ligue 1 table, and he had a hand in all of PSG's goals in Friday's 3-0 win over Ajaccio.

The 35-year-old scored once and provided two assists for Mbappe, and PSG's attention now turns to Tuesday's Champions League clash with Maccabi Haifa in Group H, where a win would seal their place in the last-16.